Hennepin County Government Center plaza

Thousands packed the People’s Square outside the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin Monday evening. People from across Minnesota came to the rally to support the civil rights prosecution of Zimmerman in a scene similar to rallies being held around the country. For 22-year-old Kyle Mason, the circumstances surrounding the Zimmerman verdict were nothing out of the ordinary. “The recent events of Trayvon Martin really bothered me but they don’t surprise me, which makes it even more bothersome,” Mason said.

Hundreds of protesters demonstrating with Occupy Minnesota set up tents Friday afternoon in defiance of Hennepin County’s ban on tents in the Hennepin County Government Center plaza, where protesters have demonstrated since Oct. 7.